Antique Miscellaneous
Some of the most interesting antiques are the ones that don't fit neatly into any single category. This is where you'll find walking canes, scientific instruments, globes, architectural salvage, garden antiques, kitchenalia, treen, metalware and all manner of decorative curiosities.
These are the pieces that catch your eye, start conversations and make a home uniquely personal. Browse our miscellaneous collection for unexpected treasures from dealers across the UK.
Early 19th Century mahogany brass bound bucket
19th Century inlaid satinwood tray
18th Century oak dough bin
A pair of 19th Century brass candlesticks
A pair of brass Georgian candlesticks
18th Century French walnut wine cooler
19th Century Italian carved walnut torcher
19th Century black forest carving of a fox
19th Century black forest carving
19th Century Chinese table screen
Early 20th Century Chinese folding screen
19th Century French Walnut Brass Inlaid Etagere
French Rococo Style Bronze & Gilt Chenets by Charles Casier
Victorian Cast Iron Stick Stand By Falkirk Foundry
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A Rare Apprentice Miniature Dutch Marquetry Cabinet Piece c1800
18Th Century Walnut Strong Box
Screen
Pair of Brass Pricket Candlestick
William IV Mahohgany Buffet by T Willson of London
Victorian Brass Coal Scuttle/Bucket
The Joy of the Unexpected
The miscellaneous section of any antiques dealer's stock is often the most rewarding to browse. It's where you find the pieces that were made for a specific purpose that may no longer exist, objects whose beauty lies in their form rather than their function, and curiosities that simply demand to be picked up and examined.
Treen, the collective term for small wooden objects, is a particularly rich area. Butter moulds, snuff boxes, loving cups, carved animals and needle cases were all made by hand, often as one-off pieces, and have an immediate tactile appeal. Fruitwood, boxwood and lignum vitae are the most commonly used timbers.
Decorating with Antique Curiosities
Collections of small antiques displayed together create far more visual impact than any single item. Group objects by material, colour or theme: a collection of brass candlesticks, a shelf of treen, a display of antique scales and weights. The effect is personal, layered and infinitely more interesting than anything a interior designer might specify from a catalogue.
Architectural antiques such as corbels, finials, door knockers and iron boot scrapers can be used both inside and outside the home. A pair of reclaimed stone finials flanking a garden path, or an antique iron boot scraper by the front door, adds character that cannot be bought new.
Building a Collection
Many passionate collectors started with a single interesting object bought on impulse. Follow your instincts: if something appeals to you, it probably appeals to others too, and good quality unusual antiques tend to hold their value well. Buy the best you can afford and enjoy the hunt.